Anne PauwelsAnne Pauwels

Heritage and Community Languages in higher

education:Some Initiatives from

Australia

Heritage and Community Languages in higher

education:Some Initiatives from

Australia

Australia as a multilingual and multicultural community

Australia as a multilingual and multicultural community

• Almost 17% use a community language at home

• More than 350 languages spoken in Australia• Top ten languages in 2006: Chinese, Italian,

Greek, Arabic, Vietnamese, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, German, Hindi, Croatian

• Top ten languages in 1976:Italian, Greek, German, Serbo-Croatian,French, Dutch, Polish, Arabic, Spanish and Maltese

• Almost 17% use a community language at home

• More than 350 languages spoken in Australia• Top ten languages in 2006: Chinese, Italian,

Greek, Arabic, Vietnamese, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, German, Hindi, Croatian

• Top ten languages in 1976:Italian, Greek, German, Serbo-Croatian,French, Dutch, Polish, Arabic, Spanish and Maltese

Age profile of ethnolinguistic communities

Age profile of ethnolinguistic communities

• Young profile [% of speakers in the 0-14 years age group]: Arabic (26%), Vietnamese (23.6%),Cantonese (17.3%), Mandarin (17.1%), Spanish (14.3%), Greek (12.2%), Italian (6.6%)

• Old profile [% of speakers in +55 age group]: Latvian (67%), Lithuanian (64.4%), Dutch (56.6%),Ukrainian (53%), German (49.5%), Hungarian (49.1%), Maltese (43.3%)

• Young profile [% of speakers in the 0-14 years age group]: Arabic (26%), Vietnamese (23.6%),Cantonese (17.3%), Mandarin (17.1%), Spanish (14.3%), Greek (12.2%), Italian (6.6%)

• Old profile [% of speakers in +55 age group]: Latvian (67%), Lithuanian (64.4%), Dutch (56.6%),Ukrainian (53%), German (49.5%), Hungarian (49.1%), Maltese (43.3%)

Australia’s language policiesAustralia’s language policies

• Major fluctuations since its formation as a colony in 18th C

• National Policy on Languages (1987)– English for all– A second language for all– Maintenance of Australian indigenous

languages– Language services for people

• A series of reiterations and variations since 1987 (Lo Bianco 2009)

• Major fluctuations since its formation as a colony in 18th C

• National Policy on Languages (1987)– English for all– A second language for all– Maintenance of Australian indigenous

languages– Language services for people

• A series of reiterations and variations since 1987 (Lo Bianco 2009)

Languages in SchoolsLanguages in Schools• Priority languages• Increasing commitment to a minimum of 3

years compulsory study of a language• Widespread adoption of language study in

primary schools• 130 languages available for study• School of languages in some states• More than 40 languages available for final year

assessment (=A level)• Approx 13% of graduating students (A level)

take an exam in a language

• Priority languages• Increasing commitment to a minimum of 3

years compulsory study of a language• Widespread adoption of language study in

primary schools• 130 languages available for study• School of languages in some states• More than 40 languages available for final year

assessment (=A level)• Approx 13% of graduating students (A level)

take an exam in a language

Languages at UniversityLanguages at University

• Approx 66 languages available for study at 1 or more Australian universities in the mid 1990s

• In 2006 reduced to 29 languages• Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Italian,

Indonesian, German and Spanish are widely available• Most universities offer around 6 languages• Less widely taught languages are concentrated in less

than 5 universities on east coast of Australia• Hebrew, Hindi, Macedonian, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian,

Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese available at only 1 or 2 universities

• Approx 66 languages available for study at 1 or more Australian universities in the mid 1990s

• In 2006 reduced to 29 languages• Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Italian,

Indonesian, German and Spanish are widely available• Most universities offer around 6 languages• Less widely taught languages are concentrated in less

than 5 universities on east coast of Australia• Hebrew, Hindi, Macedonian, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian,

Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese available at only 1 or 2 universities

Linguistic diversity in Australian universities

Linguistic diversity in Australian universities

• 18% of Australian (home) students use a language other than English at home

• More than 120 languages are used by Australian students

• Top ten languages:Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Arabic, other Chinese dialects, Greek, Spanish, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean

• 18% of Australian (home) students use a language other than English at home

• More than 120 languages are used by Australian students

• Top ten languages:Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Arabic, other Chinese dialects, Greek, Spanish, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean

The situation of languages at university: a summary

The situation of languages at university: a summary

• A drastic reduction in the number of languages available for study (single, joint honours or as additional subject)

• Only 1 language is available in all states: Indonesian

• Only four universities offer more than 10 languages

• Most universities offer 2 to 3 European languages and 2 or 3 Asian languages

• Most language departments have less than 8 FTE academic staff

• Increased casualisation of the work force

• A drastic reduction in the number of languages available for study (single, joint honours or as additional subject)

• Only 1 language is available in all states: Indonesian

• Only four universities offer more than 10 languages

• Most universities offer 2 to 3 European languages and 2 or 3 Asian languages

• Most language departments have less than 8 FTE academic staff

• Increased casualisation of the work force

The situation of languages at university: a summary

The situation of languages at university: a summary

• Reduction in language programs & departments across the country due to financial constraints

• Increased demand for ab-initio courses• Significant increase in the number of tertiary

students with a home background in a language other than English

• Increased demand for language as an additional subject in degree programs

• Increased demand for language skills for strategic purposes (economic, security)

• Disjuncture with languages in schools

• Reduction in language programs & departments across the country due to financial constraints

• Increased demand for ab-initio courses• Significant increase in the number of tertiary

students with a home background in a language other than English

• Increased demand for language as an additional subject in degree programs

• Increased demand for language skills for strategic purposes (economic, security)

• Disjuncture with languages in schools

Strengthening languages through collaborative arrangements

Strengthening languages through collaborative arrangements

• To ensure that very small enrolment languages continue to be available for study in Australia

• To ensure that as many students as possible have access to language study across Australian universities

• To facilitate the introduction of new languages into universities, especially those of relevance to Australia

• To minimise the closure of language departments in Australian universities

• To enrich language learning experiences for Australian language learners

• To ensure that very small enrolment languages continue to be available for study in Australia

• To ensure that as many students as possible have access to language study across Australian universities

• To facilitate the introduction of new languages into universities, especially those of relevance to Australia

• To minimise the closure of language departments in Australian universities

• To enrich language learning experiences for Australian language learners

Models for language collaboration

Models for language collaboration

• Cooperative Blended Model• Cooperative Blended Exchange

Model• Blended Online and Immersion

Model: residential - study abroad• Collaborative city-based model

• Cooperative Blended Model• Cooperative Blended Exchange

Model• Blended Online and Immersion

Model: residential - study abroad• Collaborative city-based model

Initial EvaluationInitial Evaluation

• Cooperative blended model is the most successful to date

• Blended online & immersion model is working best for very small programs in languages working together

• Practical arrangements and administrative procedures are the main ‘stumbling blocks’ for long term collaboration.

• Cooperative blended model is the most successful to date

• Blended online & immersion model is working best for very small programs in languages working together

• Practical arrangements and administrative procedures are the main ‘stumbling blocks’ for long term collaboration.

City-based collaborationCity-based collaboration

• Version 1: students travel• Version 2: staff travel

• Version 1: students travel• Version 2: staff travel

Some concluding remarksSome concluding remarks

• Majority of world’s languages will never reach a ‘critical mass’ of students in a university and will need to be sustained through partnerships, collaboration across universities, systems, countries.

• Criteria for collaboration: – Willingness to work together– A degree of compatibility,– Willingness to embrace a new way of thinking– Sustainability

• Majority of world’s languages will never reach a ‘critical mass’ of students in a university and will need to be sustained through partnerships, collaboration across universities, systems, countries.

• Criteria for collaboration: – Willingness to work together– A degree of compatibility,– Willingness to embrace a new way of thinking– Sustainability